Louisiana registration and tax info

Before you can pay employees, make sure you've registered for payroll in their applicable work state. This can sometimes take several weeks—the sooner you start the process, the sooner you'll have the tax account info required to pay them. Learn more about paying your first employee in a new state by watching this quick tutorial.

Gusto partners with CorpNet to help you register in the state—learn more below.

Click Register for LA income and unemployment tax on your own or Find account numbers and rate info (if you're already registered) to learn more about:

Registering on your own and entering the tax account info in Gusto.
Finding your tax account number(s) and rates and entering them in Gusto.
Third party authorization (TPA) info—TPA is recommended in this state.

Payroll blocked?

Check out our payroll blocked troubleshooting tips article.

Let us register for you

Gusto partners with CorpNet to help you register your business in new states.

How it works

Once a work address has been added in a new state and a new employee has been hired and assigned a work address in that state, you can get registration assistance in Gusto.

Pricing varies by state—get started below and during step 4, you'll review the price, process, and estimated timeline to completion.

Here’s a snapshot of the process:

We’ll collect some basic business information from you.
Gusto and CorpNet will check the information for accuracy.
Your registration application(s) are usually submitted within 3-5 business days.
Check the mail for registration info—the state will typically send your tax account numbers and rates to you directly.

CorpNet can walk you through entering any info that they themselves do not enter in Gusto on your behalf.

Get started with state tax registration

Sign in to Gusto as an admin.
Click the Taxes & compliance section and select Tax setup.
Under “[State name] Tax Setup”, click Have us register for you.
- The state you want to register in will only appear in this location once a work address has been added in a new state and an employee has been assigned a work address in that state.
Review the price, process, and estimated timeline to completion.
- We will not charge you the registration service fee until you send us your order.
Click Continue.
Answer a couple eligibility questions.
- Note: Gusto can only register for you if you don't yet have a state account already.
Click Save & continue.
Enter some company information.
- We’ll pre-populate the information we already have.
Click Save & continue.
Tell us about your responsible party–this is the person who is to be held accountable for the company’s good standing and a point of contact within the organization for tax purposes.
- If you're a nonprofit and run into any issues, check out our FAQ section below for more information.
Click Save & continue.
Enter some state-specific operational information.
Click Save and continue.
Review all information thoroughly–if any information is incorrect, it may delay the process.
- Heads up: State and local agencies may charge additional fees and increase the estimated turnaround time shown. CorpNet will let you know if that happens.
Check the box to acknowledge all info is accurate and you agree to the Terms of Service.
Click Send registration order.

After you send your order, we’ll email you with status updates and add your order total to your next monthly invoice.

Check the status of your order

When your order is complete, you’ll receive emails from both Gusto and CorpNet. They’ll detail the next steps which include:

Reviewing registration details
Any other state-specific instructions

Before your order is completed, you can use the link in the state registration confirmation email from Gusto to check the status of your order.

You can also check the status in your Gusto account:

Head to the Taxes & compliance section and select Tax setup.
Scroll to the state's headline.
Click Check the status of your registration.

Cancel your order

If your order is still in progress, you can cancel from your Gusto account:

Head to the Taxes & compliance section and select Tax setup.
Scroll to the state's headline.
Click Check the status of your registration.
On the right-side of the page, under "Changed your mind?", click Cancel your order.
Let us know why you're canceling.
Click Cancel your order.

If you were already charged, you'll automatically receive a refund within a few business days.

FAQs

Q: Can I run payroll for my employees before my registration is complete?

A: Not in most cases—you typically need to have a withholding account number and required tax rate(s) in Gusto before you can run payroll.

If you’re registering in a state where there is no income tax withheld, you can use the state-specific “new employer rate” in this article until you receive your company-assigned rate from the agency.

Q: Can I use Gusto to register in a new state if I don't have a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) yet, or if the business is undergoing a merger or acquisition?

A: No–you must have a FEIN entered in Gusto to order a state tax registration.

If your company is going through a merger or being acquired, CorpNet cannot assist with registration. Work with your tax advisor and state agencies directly to navigate this change and register your business.

Q: Where can I see all my tax information?

A: You can see all tax details in the following locations:

Gusto–head to the Taxes & compliance and select Tax setup, and scroll to the applicable state tax setup.
CorpNet–create a CorpNet account and login at any time to review information.
State online account–once you’ve gained access to your agency accounts, your tax details will also be available there.
Some agencies issue tax details by mail. If this is the case, CorpNet will notify you, and you'll need to enter this information into Gusto directly.

Gusto’s state tax registration service does not contain tax, legal, financial, or HR advice. Since rules and regulations change over time and can vary by location, consult a lawyer, HR expert, or accountant for specific guidance.

Q: What if I'm not liable for unemployment yet (referring to the minimum wage threshold in some states)?

A: In order for CorpNet to start the registration process for an unemployment account number before you're liable, you can:

Use today’s date as the first date the employee(s) in the new state will be paid.
Enter the start date of the quarter you expect the employee(s) to first make $1500.

Q: Can I register with CorpNet if the responsible party is based internationally and does not have an ITIN/SSN?

A: CorpNet may be able to assist directly—reach out to [email protected] or call 1(888) 449-2638.

Q: My company is a nonprofit—why can't I enter 0% in the responsible party section, or add a commercial owner?

A: Some states have a 1% minimum for the responsible party ownership percentage. Those states are: ID, KS, MN, OH, SC, DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, and RI. Registration orders will need to be placed directly through CorpNet, outside of Gusto, or you'll need to register directly with the agency yourself.

Some states require that an individual owner be listed on the account. If you're a non-profit and not sure how to proceed, contact CorpNet directly at [email protected] or call 1(888) 449-2638.

Q: Does CorpNet help with state tax account closures?

A: No—you'll need to close the tax account on your own.

Click the dropdowns below to learn how to register with state agencies and give Gusto third-party access to help troubleshoot tax issues.

Louisiana tax agencies

Louisiana Department of Revenue (DOR) - income tax withholding
Louisiana Workforce Commission - unemployment tax

Withholding account registration—income tax

You should receive your Revenue Account Number instantly after registering online.

Register online with the LA Department of Revenue.
- You can also complete the paper application and mail it to the Louisiana Department of Revenue, PO Box 201, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0201.
Click on the geauxBIZ.com icon if you still need to register your new business with the Secretary of State.
- If you've registered your business previously with the Secretary of State’s office and need to obtain a Louisiana Department of Revenue business account, click Additional Revenue Account.
Click Sign In or Create Account.
Sign in if you already have an account, or click Create Account again.
Complete all remaining prompts.

The format for the account number is "#######-001" for Partnerships, LLCs, and Corporations. For Sole Proprietors, your account number is your SSN (###-##-####).

Enter the tax account information in Gusto

Click the Taxes & compliance section and select Tax setup.
Scroll to the "Louisiana Tax Setup" headline and select Manage taxes.
Enter your withholding account number (Revenue Account Number)—this is typically a 7-digit number followed by "-001."
- Example for Partnerships, LLCs, and Corporations: "#######-001".
  - For Sole Proprietors, your account number is your SSN (###-##-####).
- If you need to update your account number: Contact us from the Help or Priority support section of your account—there may be tax implications if taxes have already been paid or filed to an incorrect account number.

State unemployment insurance tax (SUI) registration

Running payroll in Gusto before you're liable for SUI

If you need to run payroll and have not yet registered for unemployment tax, Gusto allows it—we just suggest you add the "New employer SUI tax rate" specific to Louisiana in the meantime.

You can find the new employer rates for each state in this article, along with instructions on how to update the rate once you become liable and receive your company-specific agency assigned rate.

Eventually, Gusto will need:

Your unemployment account number—required to file and pay taxes on your behalf.
Your company-specific unemployment tax rate—assigned by the agency.

Register for unemployment tax

You should receive the following instantly after registering online:

Employer Account Number
UI Contribution Rate (unemployment contribution rate) and;
Occupational Code

If you do not receive the numbers instantly, contact the agency directly at (225) 326-6999 or (866) 783-5567 to obtain them.

Begin online registration at the Louisiana Workforce Commission website.
Scroll to the bottom of the page and check the box to acknowledge you've read the requirements.
Click Begin Application.
Complete all remaining prompts.
- If you get stuck during registration, check out this resource, which includes more information about the registration process and additional help resources.

If you still need registration help, call the agency at (225) 326-6999 or (866) 783-5567.

Enter the tax account information in Gusto

Once a valid Louisiana work address has been added in Gusto for one or more employee(s), you can add your tax account information:

Click the Taxes & compliance section and select Tax setup.
Scroll to the "Louisiana Tax Setup" headline and select Manage taxes.
Enter your unemployment account number, unemployment tax rate, and occupational code.
- The occupational code will take the form XX-XXXX.
- If you need to update your rate: Follow the steps outlines in this article.
- If you need to update your account number: Contact us from the Help or Priority support section of your account—there may be tax implications if taxes have already been paid or filed to an incorrect account number.

You can always verify your unemployment account number and rate by calling the agency at (225) 326-6999 or (866) 783-5567.

Third party authorization (TPA) is recommended

In order for Gusto to keep your Louisiana tax information up-to-date and help troubleshoot tax issues, we'll need you to authorize Gusto as your third-party agent (TPA). Gusto will become your TPA for:

The LA Workforce Commission – unemployment tax

Add Gusto as your third-party agent in LA

Sign in to your Workforce Commission account.
Click Tax Services
Under “Employer Services”, click Account Maintenance.
Enter the email address that is associated with the business account and select verify email address.
Enter Gusto's "Agent Access Code": 712022426.
Give Gusto access to the following options/roles:
- File quarterly wage and tax reports
- View quarterly wage and tax reports and payments made
- Make payments
- View tax rate notices
Click Confirm Agent & Assign Access.

Find account numbers and rate info (if you're already registered)

If you've already registered in the state, you'll need to enter your tax account details in Gusto in order to pay employees.

You'll need to be registered with one or more of the below agencies in order for Gusto to file and pay taxes on your behalf:

Louisiana Department of Revenue (DOR) - income tax withholding
Louisiana Workforce Commission - unemployment tax

If you still need to register, click the Register a company with state agencies on your own dropdown above in this article.

Find your withholding tax account number—Revenue Account Number

If you've run payroll in Louisiana previously, you can find your Revenue Account Number by:

Viewing your Employer's Return of Income Tax Withheld (L-1) that was mailed to you by the LA DOR or;
Calling the agency at (855) 307-3893.

The format for the withholding account number is "#######-001" for Partnerships, LLCs, and Corporations. For Sole Proprietors, your account number is your SSN (###-##-####).

Find your unemployment account number, unemployment rate, and occupational code

Employer account number

If you've run payroll in Louisiana previously, your Employer Account Number (sometimes called the State Identification Number (SID), SUTA ID Number, or Unemployment Account Number) can be found by:

Reviewing the Liability Letter sent to you by the Louisiana Workforce Commission or;
Reviewing your Quarterly Report of Wages Paid (Form LDOL-ES4) or;
Calling the agency at (866) 783-5567.

Unemployment contribution rate and occupational code

Your Unemployment Insurance Contribution Rate and Occupational Code can be found by:

Reviewing the Liability Letter sent to you by the Louisiana Workforce Commission or;
Logging in to your account with the LA Wage and Tax System.

The occupational code will take the form XX-XXXX.

If you're unsure of your info, call the agency at (225) 326-6999.

If you need to run payroll and have not yet registered for unemployment tax, Gusto allows it—we just suggest you add the "New employer SUI tax rate" specific to Louisiana in the meantime. You can find the new employer rates for each state in this article, along with instructions on how to update the rate once you become liable and receive your company-specific agency assigned rate.

Enter the tax account information in Gusto

Once a valid Louisiana address has been added in Gusto for one or more employee(s), you can add your tax account information:

Click the Taxes & compliance section and select Tax setup.
Scroll to the "Louisiana Tax Setup" headline and select Manage taxes.
Enter the applicable account number(s) and rate(s).

Third party authorization (TPA) is recommended

The LA Workforce Commission – unemployment tax

Add Gusto as your third-party agent in LA

Sign in to your Workforce Commission account.
Click Tax Services
Under “Employer Services”, click Account Maintenance.
Enter the email address that is associated with the business account and select verify email address.
Enter Gusto's "Agent Access Code": 712022426.
Give Gusto access to the following options/roles:
- File quarterly wage and tax reports
- View quarterly wage and tax reports and payments made
- Make payments
- View tax rate notices
Click Confirm Agent & Assign Access.

Forms we file in Louisiana

Transmittal of Withholding Tax Statements (L-3)
Employer's Return of State Income Tax Withheld (L-1)
Withholding Payment Voucher (L1-V)*
Wage and Tax Statement (State W2)
LA New Hire Report
Employer's Wage and Tax Report (LDOL ES4)

Where to find the forms available in your account

Head to the Taxes & compliance section and select Tax documents.

Use the tabs on the page to toggle between federal, state, W-2, and 1099 forms.

Asterisk info—only if applicable

Filings marked with an asterisk (*) will not appear in your Tax documents tab—these are coupons, payment vouchers, or other forms that are filed electronically.

You can confirm tax payments were made by running an agency payments report.

Agency website(s) and contact info

Louisiana Department of Revenue (855) 307-3893, Option 2
Louisiana Workforce Commission (833) 708-2866

Need to close or reopen a tax account? Head to our article on closing and reopening a state or local tax account.